Rhode Island State Laws

Summary:

Registered health clubs must have at least one AED and one employee trained in CPR/AED on the premises.
Effective August 1, 2017, all middle and high schools must provide and maintain AEDs on site.
Good Samaritan protection from liability for ordinary negligence (but not for gross, willful, or wanton negligence) is extended to rescuers who have received CPR/AED training; this protection also extends to the owners of the AED, the owner or lessor of the property where the emergency care is rendered, and CPR/AED trainers. Untrained users may not be entitled to immunity from liability.
All high school students must be trained in CPR/AED prior to graduation.
Facilities capable of holding 300 or more people shall have an AED on the premises. This includes educational facilities, government and public buildings, restaurants, retail establishments, malls, sports arenas, theaters, and more.

Requirements

Required

Reference

Description

State specific Rx required*

Good Samaritan protection for UNTRAINED users

§ 9-1-34

(a) No person, whether acting in an official capacity or as a private volunteer, who gratuitously renders emergency assistance in the nature of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or automated external defibrillation to a person in need thereof, shall be liable for civil damages for any personal injuries which result from acts or omissions by such persons rendering the emergency care, which may constitute ordinary negligence; provided, however, that this immunity applies only to persons who have been trained in accordance with standards promulgated by either the American heart association or the American national red cross. This immunity does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, willful, or wanton negligence. This immunity shall also extend to persons providing approved training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of automated external defibrillation in accordance with standards promulgated by either the American heart association or the American national red cross and to physicians providing medical direction oversight for programs of automated external defibrillator use. Public Place: At least one person who is properly trained in the operation and use of an AED. Training required by this chapter may be conducted by qualified personnel, including, but not limited to, municipal fire and police department employees.

Good Samaritan protection for TRAINED users only

Medical Direction requried

State Specific Medical Direction required

AED routinely maintained and/or tested

Training required for expected users

23-6.5-2, R5-50-12(a) , 16-21-33.1(b)

At least one person who is properly trained in the operation and use of an AED. Training required by this chapter may be conducted by qualified personnel, including, but not limited to, municipal fire and police department employees. Health Clubs: At least one employee per shift must be properly trained by the American Heart Association or comparable state recognized agency in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED, and must be on duty during hours of operation. Schools - (b) All high schools and middle schools, whether they are public or privately run, shall provide and maintain on-site functional automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in quantities and types, deemed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the director of health, to be adequate to ensure ready and appropriate access for use during emergencies. Whenever school facilities are used for school-sponsored or school-approved curricular or extracurricular activities, and whenever a school-sponsored athletic contest is held at any location, the school officials and administrators responsible for such school facility or athletic contest shall ensure the presence of at least one person who is properly trained in the operation and use of an AED. Such training may be conducted by qualified personnel, including, but not limited to, municipal fire and police department employees.

Health Clubs - (a) Every health club registered with the department of attorney general pursuant to this chapter shall have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) on the premises. Public Places - (a) As used in this chapter, "public place" means an enclosed area capable of holding three hundred (300) people or more and to which the public is invited or in which the public is permitted, including, but not limited to: banks; bars; educational facilities; health-care facilities; laundromats; public transportation facilities; reception areas; restaurants; retail food production and marketing establishments; retail service establishments; retail stores; shopping malls; sports arenas; government offices; theaters; and waiting rooms. A private residence is not a "public place" unless it is used as a child-care, adult day-care, or health-care facility. Schools - (b) All high schools and middle schools, whether they are public or privately run, shall provide and maintain on-site functional automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in quantities and types, deemed by the commissioner of education, in consultation with the director of health, to be adequate to ensure ready and appropriate access for use during emergencies. Dentists - B. The licensed dentist administering or permitting the administration of nitrous oxide sedation shall meet the following equipment requirements: 1. Automated external defibrillator (AED); 1. The dentist administering or permitting the administration of minimal sedation shall have the following age and size appropriate equipment: … b. Automatic External Defibrillator (AED); 1. The dentist administrating or permitting the administration of general anesthesia/general anesthesia shall have the following equipment: … f. Resuscitation medications and a defibrillator must be immediately available. Freestanding Emergency Care Facilities - A. No less than the following special supplies and equipment shall be available and located within the emergency service area: … 3. Cardiac monitor and defibrillator with battery pack.